Name
Arthur Thomas Ansell
1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/11/1917
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
25438
Northamptonshire Regiment
5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL
Panel 8.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
Wheathampstead Village Memorial, St. Peter's Church Memorial, Gustard Wood
Pre War
Arthur Thomas Ansell was born in the area known as Nomansland of Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, in 1888, son of James Joseph Ansell, a Gravel Digger, and Marguerite (Margaret) Ansell, (nee Mardell). One of nine children, two died in infancy. Arthur Thomas was baptised in the Parish Church, Wheathampstead, on 29 April 1888.
The 1891 Census records Arthur or Thomas as he seems to have been known to the family) aged 3, living with his parents, brother Charles (born in 1885) and sister Lizzie (3 months), his grandmother Naomi Ansell was also living with the family in Nomansland, Wheathampstead, Herts.
By 1901 the family had moved to Gustard Wood, Herts, Arthur is recorded as Thomas, aged 13, and working at a Garden Nurseries, living at home with his parents, Charles, Lizzie, and additions to the family Annie (born 1894), Maggie (born 1896), and Albert (born 1898), his grandmother Naomi Ansell (80) is living with the family.
Arthur Thomas married Rosa Burton the daughter of Charles & Caroline Burton of Wheathampstead, on 29 December 1909, the 1911 Census records Arthur married to Rosa, with one child Gladys Lydia (born 16 May 1909. He is employed as a Millers Carter, and they are living in Gustard Wood, Herts. There would be 3 further children: Arthur Kenneth (born 9 Feb 1912), Douglas (born 3 Jul 1914) and Cecil Thomas (born 20 Nov 1916). Arthur’s parents were still living in Gustard wood with brother Charles, Albert and youngest brother William (born 1902).
Wartime Service
Arthur Thomas, having been called forward, attested at St. Albans, Herts, on 26 Feb 1916, and was posted to the Army Reserve the following day the 27th. His age was given as 27 years and 11 months, and his occupation a labourer.
He was mobilized on 29th May 1916, and posted to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, with the service number 25438 and rank of Private. Following his training he arrived in France on 27 March 1917 and transferred to the 5th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers) in the Arras Sector.
There would be lots of work for Pioneers due to a shortage of dugouts and many unconnected trenches. Seeing action in the Arras Sector in October 1917, his Battalion was involved in the Cambrai Offensive (20 Nov 1917 to 6 Dec 1917), initially achieving their objectives. On the 30 Nov 1917 the Germans launched a counter attack causing heavy casualties, and forcing a retreat. In this confused situation Arthur Thomas was reported killed in action on 30 November 1917, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial to the missing.
Additional Information
Rosa received a widow’s pension of 33/9 a week for herself and the four children from 24 June 1918, and his effects of £6-2s-4d, Pay Owing and his War Gratuity of £6-10s-0d.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
